Animal Shelter Statistics - 01-2008

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Animal Services Monthly Report January, 2008 2 Other statist ics are more specific in summarizing the services and act ivit ies of our department’s Animal Sheltering and Animal Control Divisio ns. These include: Animal Sheltering 1. B.1 Monthly Dispositions (which reports the disposit ions of all animals sheltered in a given mo nth) 2. B.2 Live Release for Placeable and Recovered Animals (discussed in detail in the fo llo wing sect ions). 3. B.3 Reasons for Euthanasia (which reports the specific reasons for which animals were euthanized in a given month) 4. B.4 Volunteer Hours (reports volunteer hours and how they compare to previous mo nths and years) Animal Control 1. C.1 Rabies Exposures Investigated and Positive Cases (which reports positive rabies tests and related invest igations conducted by Animal Control Officers). 2. C.2 Rabies Alert Map (showing posit ive cases yeartodate, by comparison wit h previous years, and their locat ion throughout Orange County). 3. C.3 Rabies Vaccinations (which reports the number of vaccinations given by area veterinarians, at lowcost vaccination clinics organized by our department, and at Orange Count y’s Animal Shelter). Together, these mo nthly statistics provide a convenient summary o f our crit ical services and act ivit ies. In a very transparent manner, they describe the efforts of our staff in delivering field services, sheltering animals whose disposit ions they must ultimately decide, and programs such as our volunteer program that, among other things, is responsible for public outreach activit ies and dog walking. Statistical Development The summary statistics provided in our monthly reports are not static. They must be subject to change as our services are redefined, our practices evo lve, and we produce the most useful statist ical information. A good example of change is table B.3 Reasons for Euthanasia. Staff captured and encouraged the reporting o f this information to make adoption figures, as well as the reasons for euthanasia, more meaningful and transparent. It does matter greatly whether a behaviorally sound and healthy animal is euthanized as a result of space limitations or an animal is euthanized because it is aggressive or infirm. For example, in the month of January, the most commo n cat euthanasia reason was medical, with 11 cats euthanized for medical reasons. This number made up 41 percent of all cats euthanized during the month and 13 percent of all animals euthanized. For dogs, the primary reason for euthanasia for the month was behavioral, with 29 dogs